DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 11: Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama who briefly visited Pune city on Wednesday, while responding to queries by Indian media on the recent clash between Dalit and Peshwa communities in the city, said that faith is a “personal business” and that same should not be used to “mobilize groups”.

The Tibetan leader told the press that people of faith or any communal affiliation should not group together against others. He said, “Whether you follow this religion or that religion, its personal matter. We should not sort of, mobilize or group.. or (say) we Buddhists, we Hindus or we Muslims. That’s not good.”

The egalitarian leader considered an icon for reconciliation and peace said that anger is root of such clashes and compassion the antidote and that the inclusiveness on mental level is also the proponent for greater peace and harmony at both personal and community level.

On Jan. 1, members of the Dalit community were allegedly attacked by individuals carrying saffron flags and escalated into a clash that resulted in the death of a person. Every new year’s day, Dalits gather to commemorate the victory of the Bhima Koregaon battle where Mahar soldiers fought with the English to defeat the Brahmin Peshwa-led Maratha Empire in 1818.